My New Year’s Resolutions for 2010

My New Year’s Resolutions for 2010

It’s that time of year again, when I post my resolutions online in the earnest hope that when my willpower fades, the fear of public humiliation will keep me going.

Despite being on my list for two consecutive years, I still haven’t brought myself to embrace beets. Last year, I simply avoided mentioning this goal, hoping the situation would somehow fix itself. It didn’t —  although in my defense, I did score a minor victory with Brussels sprouts.

So, having admitted Beet Defeat, this year I will endeavour to stop making bad rhymes and …

  • Conquer pastry! Yes. It’s not so much that I’m going to find some recipes that work. After all, I do have my no-fail pastry to all back on. But Marcy Goldman assured me it’s more about self-confidence than technique, so I’m going to cut butter, blend flour and roll with great authority until the thought of baking pie no longer makes me consider donning dark glasses and heading to the frozen food section of the grocery store for some pre-made Tenderflake pie shells.
  • Crank up the photo quality. I’ve improved, but I’m not consistently happy with my shots, especially now that winter allots me all of 12 minutes of good light in a given 24-hour period — if I’m lucky. The fix? I’m not sure. It might take a set of lamps. It might take a new lens. It might just take a bit more patience with the dreaded set up. Honestly, how do the pros spend hours setting up a shot? All I can think of is, “Let’s eat!”
  • Focus of vegetables: Look at the recipe index. Just look at it. There’s an appalling lack of greens. And I love vegetables. So, I hereby announce my fibre-friendly intention to provide a vegetable dish once a week. “ONCE A WEEK? That’s crazy talk!” you say? We’ll see.

So, modest as they are, those are my resolutions.  What are yours?

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12 Comments
  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 10:20h, 04 January

    Welcome back and Happy New Year to you, Charmian! Hope you enjoyed the holidays and your little break too.

    I’m not much of a resolution person – I know myself too well to commit in writing! That said, I’ve promised myself that I’ll finally learn to speak Spanish this year … which might actually happen since the husband gave me Rosetta Stone for Christmas. 🙂

    And, blogwise, I’d like to finally do the redesign I’ve been planning for the last year or so. Ditto on the photog improvement for me as well. The lighting is an issue here too and I def. need a new camera.

    As a true beet-freak, I hope to see you join in the beet-love this year, good luck! And as for the pastry – I tip my tiara to you … you’re far more brave than I … who will be in the frozen food aisle, as per usual!
    .-= The Diva on a Diet´s last blog ..Holiday Round-up … =-.

  • Katerina
    Posted at 16:20h, 04 January

    Great resolutions, I look forward to seeing more vegetables! I think we can all improve our photos, that is one of my resolutions too, in fact I am taking a food photography workshop next weekend.

    I like beets, but here are my two favorite beet recipes, a salad:
    http://www.dailyunadventuresincooking.com/2008/06/roasted-beet-walnut-and-goat-cheese.html

    And this roesti, it helps if you fry them 🙂 :http://www.dailyunadventuresincooking.com/2008/08/beet-and-potato-roesti.html
    .-= Katerina´s last blog ..Yellow Split Pea Dahl Recipe with Potatoes and Coconut Milk =-.

  • Cheryl@5secondrule
    Posted at 16:43h, 04 January

    My resolution is to get organized. I cleaned out all my files on Saturday and could actually see the blotter on my desk on Sunday. Of course, now it’s Monday and I know I put my electric bill somewhere. Is that it under the plate from this morning’s toast? Wait, how did that magazine get there?

    So nice to have you back.
    .-= Cheryl@5secondrule´s last blog ..Open =-.

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 17:07h, 04 January

    One friend’s resolution was simply “to get my shit together.” That pretty much says it all. Personally, I’m not a resolution person, more of a goal setter. And this year my goals are about time use – use it better! I’ve bought a new daytimer and have created editorial schedules. So far so good.

    PS I’m posting my borscht recipe tomorrow. Maybe that can convert you?
    .-= Cheryl Arkison´s last blog ..Champagne and Truffles =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:06h, 05 January

    Great resolutions. Can’t wait to see the redesign.

    And good luck with the Spanish. How soon before your posts go bilingual?

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:08h, 05 January

    Have fun at the workshop!

    The two years I resolved to like beets no one said boo. But take them off the list and the suggestions roll in! Thanks for the links. I’ll be giving beets another try. Promise.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:09h, 05 January

    Your desk sounds like mine. I’m constantly resolving to get organized. In my defense. The mess is more manageable than in previous years, but it’s still a mess.

    Thanks for the warm welcome. It’s good to be back.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:12h, 05 January

    Your friend’s resolution is as good as any I’ve heard.

    I’ve been setting editorial schedules for a while and find them helpful. Hope they work for you. They do help push through the dry patches. Must now go back to my calendar and work in beets…

  • Dana McCauley
    Posted at 08:33h, 08 January

    Your photos are so much improved over a couple of years ago! I’m surprised you’re still striving.

    As for beets, I am surprised they don’t inspire you to poetry. I love em!

    My resolutions are always a little hazy. I find jumping into to many commitments right after the holidays is a little too stressful. I like to ease in. This year, I need to lose a few stress eating pounds I put on during the recession so I guess that’s a resolution of sorts.
    .-= Dana McCauley´s last blog ..This blog has moved =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 13:27h, 08 January

    Thanks, Dana. Unfortunately, as my camera skills improve, so does my eye. I see flaws in photos that I used to think were pretty good. At some point I have to reach the “good enough for the web” stage, but I’ve a long way to go before I hit that mark. It’s still too hit-and-miss for my liking.

    Beets can inspire poetry, but not the kind you mean. However, so many people are trying to convince me I’m wrong, I’m willing to try again. Soon. Just let me work up the nerve…

  • Julie
    Posted at 23:25h, 08 January

    I know my resolutions so well I don’t bother to write them out – but one in particular is to eat more soup. And thus ingest more veggies. It’s important to have achievable goals.
    .-= Julie´s last blog ..Jaden, Shauna and I Cook it Slow on Good Bite! =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 09:20h, 09 January

    Soup. I’m making some this weekend. With vegetables. We must be on the same wavelength.

    And I love achievable goals. Make better pastry. Eat more veggies. Get out of bed in the morning. All obtainable.